Hawke’s Bay Hospital well prepared for strike

15 Jan 2019, 07:57

Hawke’s Bay District Health Board is reminding people to choose well for health care when junior doctors go on strike for 48 hours from 7am tomorrow and to leave the Emergency Department (ED) for people requiring emergency or life-threatening care.

Chief Medical and Dental Officer Dr John Gommans said around the clock care would continue at Hawke’s Bay Hospital with contingency planning in place to ensure emergency and urgent care services were available, but he asked the public to help its Emergency Department out by first contacting their family doctor if the matter was non-urgent.

Many of the hospital’s junior doctors were union members, and the two day strike period meant many services would be affected.

“Patient safety is our priority and essential hospital services including the Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, SCBU, acute medical services, dialysis and maternity care are available,” said Dr Gommans.

“However, we ask people to please help us out and leave the Emergency Department for those really needing the service. If it’s NOT an emergency, contact your family doctor in the first instance, visit a walk-in medical centre or call Healthline for free advice 24/7 on 0800 611 116.”

Anyone presenting with non-urgent medical conditions or injuries would face a wait, he said.

What people should know:

Essential hospital services including the Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, SCBU, acute medical services, dialysis and maternity care are available.
Many other services throughout the hospital are being significantly reduced to ensure resources are available for patients needing emergency or acute medical and surgical care.
Patients will be cared for as normal by nursing staff and will be seen during ward rounds, or at any other time, by our Senior Medical Officers (senior doctors).
There will be impacts on some outpatient appointments and elective surgeries – these people have been contacted directly by the DHB.
If anyone is unsure whether they are affected they can call the hospital on (06) 878-8109.
Anyone who needs treatment during the strike will have it and people should not delay seeking medical advice if they think the matter is urgent.
If it’s NOT an emergency, please contact your family doctor in the first instance or call Heathline for free advice from a registered nurse 24/7 on 0800 611 116.